Published on August 13, 2008 By Texas Wahine In Blogging

I know home-schooling is more common in big families.  I don't know if it's like a big family philosophy type thing or if it's because of the cost of sending kids to school (even free public school costs $$), but it does seem more common with "big" families.  I think 4 kids counts as a big family?  Dunno. 


All I know is, I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER homeschool. 

School starts in less than 2 weeks here and it cannot come soon enough. It's too hot most of the time to play outside and the boys don't really know anyone around here so that ends up being them playing and fighting with each other all day in my house. 

I spend as much time re-cleaning as I do cleaning.  This is mostly not the boys' fault.  It's really Isabella.  Yesterday, after I had hand scrubbed the kitchen floor the day before, she got generic cocoa puffs and milk all over the floor.  And it looked like she ice skated on it.  I was doing laundry in the garage and Orian was at the table with her, but I don't think you can really blame an almost 8 year old for something an almost 2 year old does.

The cocoa puffs were wet, so they stuck to the floor like goo.  Orian actually offered to clean the floor with me, which was nice.  But first Isabella had to have a nice, thorough bath.  And while I was in there I decided to scrub the marker off the colorful wooden shelf that's in there for holding towels.  If you give a mouse a cookie...

Today has been fighting, fighting, fighting.  Xavier is always on Orian's case.  And you would think he would figure out that he needs to stop since Orian is bigger than he is and can deliver quite a beating.  But no, everything Orian says or does is wrong and Orian ends up getting nagged all day long.  I have never known a kid so obsessed with making someone else's life miserable. 

They have their moments of loving kindness, but not today.

At one point I sent Xavier to bed because I *think* he rolled his eyes at me.  When he was able to get up, he tearfully apologized and then tried to tell me he didn't roll his eyes.  I told him, it's better to just apologize and not argue about whether or not you were wrongfully accused.  Less likely to piss me off.

Later, he wanted to watch a movie and did watch it happily for quite some time until Orian headed upstairs to play a game.  Xavier immediately bounded up the stairs to accost Orian and generally make him miserable.  I forced him to finish the movie, which was a horrible punishment apparently even though it's his favorite movie ever.  Argh.

Today Isabella has crushed a PB&J (well, it was almond butter and cherry preserves) sandwich in the vicinity of the couch, stripped naked at least twice, spilled milk on the carpet, and spilled sunflower seeds (just the nuts) all over the dining room (Orian was eating them and she grabbed his plate).  She also took all the remotes and put them in our bedroom.

I actually took a video of the sunflower seed incident but I have no idea how to add that, so I guess you guys will just have to use your imagination to picture the carnage.

The boys are very helpful when it comes to putting away laundry, taking out the trash, vacuuming, and other daily tasks, but I think sending them back to school will be worth the extra chores I'll have to do myself during the day.

I don't know if this is normal for everyone else, but the living room and dining room seriously have to be vacuuming twice or more times per day.

I just heard a weird sound.  I said, "What's that sound?"


"Coffee"


"Why is the coffee pot on?"

See what I have to deal with!!

Home school parents much have way more patience than I do or be more organized or better parents or something, because seriously if I had to try to manage this chaos AND teach them each a age-appropriate cirriculum, it would probably end badly. 

I love them to pieces and I am so lucky to be able to spend so much time with them.  I really am.  I don't want to sound ungrateful.  All I'm saying is, I am glad school starts soon, because I am D-U-N with summer!


Comments
on Aug 13, 2008

lol - I'm with you unless I thought my kids were in physical danger from attending public schools that's where they will be.

on Aug 13, 2008
Heh, yep!

Of course now they are being little angels. I guess they just have to make sure my stress level reaches a certain point before they feel obligated to stop, haha.

The funny thing is, Isabella can be pretty annoying and mean to her brothers and they LET HER!! Without complaint! I'm the one who has to stop her!
on Aug 13, 2008
I just remembered what kicked it all off, LOL.

I was snuggling Isabella and she put her little hand on my mouth and said, "Shut up". Yeah, she didn't learn that from me or daddy. Shut up is now banned in our house.
on Aug 13, 2008

I hear ya!  I couldn't home school without totally losing my mind.  I love my children to pieces but I think you lose track of yourself when you have no time without them and I don't think it's good for them to be under your wing all the time either.

I'm not excited about school starting but I'm not exactly dreading it either.  I'm looking forward to getting some structure back.  The days of summer are to willy nilly for my liking.  I love summer for the first few weeks but am ready for Fall around mid August.

on Aug 13, 2008

If it's any consolation, I don't have any children, I'm a teacher, and *I'M* ready to go back to school.  I love my husband, but Mondays together (after Saturday and Sunday together, too) about drives me nuts. 

I think I find too much of my worth in school and other people's children.

I can't wait for September 2nd, though...

on Aug 13, 2008

I used to dance a jig on the first day of school....literally. 

We lived on a dirt road.  The bus would pick up the boys right in the front of the house and then go past the house to pick up the neighbor girl down the street and then turn around and come back by my house. 

On the first day of school, I would be right there  on the front lawn waiting for the bus to come back by and I would be kicking up my heels totally embarrasing my kids.  Done on purpose!

One year I got out a chair prop and sat down with a drink. slouched, ankles crossed, like I was just having such a relaxing few minutes as the bus went slowly by, probably wondering what I was going to do this year.  I just smiled and waved.   All this at 7:30 in the morning. 

Ha!  Those were the days!  I loved the first day of school. 

 

 

on Aug 13, 2008

I think 99.9% of parents w/school aged children are with ya on this one. At this point in the summer, kids are just looking to see what shennanigans they can get into...lol. The first day of school cannot come any sooner! 

on Aug 14, 2008
Home schooling is so 19th century--except for Boudica's point.
on Aug 14, 2008

This made me laugh out loud, Tex.  Reading this reminded me of what my mother must have gone through having 5 children at home on holidays.  Roll on September...

on Aug 14, 2008

Home schooling is so 19th century

I'd argue the point with you if I felt it would make a difference.

Tex - I know the feeling.  Since we moved back to our home town, we put the kids in the local school system.  And my wife's enjoying the chance to figure out who she is outside the realm of "Mom".   September can't come soon enough ...

When you mention Isabella picking on the boys and them letting her, it reminded me of my three boys and their little sister.  For the longest time, they were so excited to have a little sister, they'd let her do what ever she wanted.  Now?  They stand up for themselves (while acknowledging that she's got each of them wrapped around her little finger.  ) And guess who's the biggest instigator/troublemaker of the four?  Little miss innocent.  Of course, she tries to get Daddy to see her way, all the time.  Too bad for her, I don't fall for it ... too often.  She is cute and adorable and a daddy's girl.  I'm just aware of the fact that she's a carbon copy of her mother, and react accordingly. 

on Aug 14, 2008

Oh Izzy is a little minx!LOL!  I hear ya about being dun!  OUr school begins on MOnday!   It's open house, meet the teachers, get the new schedules, e, Both on the same day!  Why do they do that?  I will be literally running from one school to the next to make sure I beat the crowd at both schools!lol!

on Aug 14, 2008
Why homeschooling is great... home economics class. "Okay, children, time to clean this house!"

... if only it were true.
on Aug 14, 2008

I was snuggling Isabella and she put her little hand on my mouth and said, "Shut up".

Uh oh.  She probably heard it here.  My what large ears you have....hahaha.  I say it all the time to Gavin because hush honey, be still, shhh, stop, don't ever work.

Then he stops long enough to tell me those are ugly words and just keeps on ......and on and on....

I told him, it's better to just apologize and not argue about whether or not you were wrongfully accused. Less likely to piss me off.

Best line ever. hahahaha

because I am D-U-N with summer!

AMEN Sister!

KFC says she did a little jig for the bus... I don't even wait for it to pull away...I say "WOO HOO! And shake it."

The bus driver told me last year, while laughing, "You know how many moms have done that today?"

hahahaha.

A lot.